This investigation is directly relevant to various applications associated with the safety aspects of underbalanced drilling operations where de-oxygenated air may be co-injected with oil-based drilling fluid. However, de-oxygenated air often still contains up to 5% oxygen by volume. This residual oxygen can react with oil during the drilling process, thereby forming potentially hazardous oxidized hydrocarbons and compromising the safety of drilling operations. This article examines the conditions and processes by which oxidation reactions occur and may be helpful in reducing risk in drilling operations. This project characterizes the oxidation behavior of several oils and a typical oil-based drilling fluid at atmospheric and elevated pressures using thermogravimetry (TG) and pressurized differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC). Tests performed on mineral matrix (core) from the oil reservoirs showed no reactivity in both inert and oxidizing atmospheres. In an inert atmosphere, tests on all hydrocarbon samples showed only vaporization, no reactivity. In an oxidizing environment, the tests on hydrocarbons showed several oxidation regions. The presence of core had no effect on the behavior of the hydrocarbons tested in an inert atmosphere but accelerated the higher temperature oxidation reactions of the oil samples. The oil-based drilling fluid exhibited the opposite effect—the presence of core material retarded the oxidation reactions. This is perhaps due to the presence of an oxygen scavenger reacting with oxygen-containing clays present in the mineral matrix. In all tests performed on mixtures of hydrocarbon and core in oxidizing atmospheres, elevated pressures resulted in acceleration of the lower and higher temperature reaction regions.
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September 2003
Technical Papers
Oxidation Characteristics of Light Hydrocarbons for Underbalanced Drilling Applications
Helen A. Ferguson,
Helen A. Ferguson
University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, 2500 University Dr. N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
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S.A. (Raj) Mehta,
S.A. (Raj) Mehta
University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, 2500 University Dr. N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
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R. Gordon Moore,
R. Gordon Moore
University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, 2500 University Dr. N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
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Nancy E. Okazawa,
Nancy E. Okazawa
University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, 2500 University Dr. N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
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Matthew G. Ursenbach
Matthew G. Ursenbach
University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, 2500 University Dr. N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
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Helen A. Ferguson
University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, 2500 University Dr. N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
S.A. (Raj) Mehta
University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, 2500 University Dr. N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
R. Gordon Moore
University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, 2500 University Dr. N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
Nancy E. Okazawa
University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, 2500 University Dr. N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
Matthew G. Ursenbach
University of Calgary, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, 2500 University Dr. N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
Contributed by the Fuels and Combustion Technologies Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY. Manuscript received by the FACT Division; February 2002; revised manuscript received November 2002. Associate Editor: C. T. Avedisian
J. Energy Resour. Technol. Sep 2003, 125(3): 177-182 (6 pages)
Published Online: August 29, 2003
Article history
Received:
February 1, 2002
Revised:
November 1, 2002
Online:
August 29, 2003
Citation
Ferguson , H. A., Mehta , S. (., Gordon Moore , R., Okazawa , N. E., and Ursenbach, M. G. (August 29, 2003). "Oxidation Characteristics of Light Hydrocarbons for Underbalanced Drilling Applications ." ASME. J. Energy Resour. Technol. September 2003; 125(3): 177–182. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1586935
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